A warning on the state Republican Party's website in Iowa was inspired by plans for a police traffic safety checkpoint Friday night in Des Moines. / Joe Raedle, Getty Images

by Jens Manuel Krogstad, USA TODAY

by Jens Manuel Krogstad, USA TODAY

DES MOINES, Iowa -- Iowa GOP officials raised the ire of some fellow Republicans with a warning posted Friday on the state party's website and Facebook page that advised Iowans to avoid being overly cooperative with police during traffic stops.

"The Iowa GOP strongly urges you NOT to give in to any illegal searches of your car," the message advised, prompting renewed calls by some Republicans for party leaders to resign.

The message and the reaction to it Friday were the latest examples of the growing rift between the state party's leaders, who support libertarian former Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, and the party's more mainstream wing led by Gov. Terry Branstad.

The website warning was inspired by a traffic safety checkpoint set for Friday night in West Des Moines. The checkpoint is designed to, among other things, verify that turn signals, brake lights and headlights are working.

Leaders of the Republican Party of Iowa called the stops an "unnecessary 'random' police checkpoint." The post went on to suggest that motorists record videos of their interactions with police and send them to party headquarters.

Drivers were further advised to only comply with requests for license, registration and insurance, and not to volunteer additional information or allow police to search their vehicles.

"I think people believe that if the police are pulling people over for drunk driving or for driving erratically, that's a good thing," said Steve Bierfeldt, the party's executive director. "But there's no need for police to randomly pull people over based on no evidence."

Branstad, who has a chilly relationship with party leadership, declined to comment through a spokesman on the Iowa GOP's advice.

But Doug Gross, a longtime Iowa Republican fundraiser and Branstad strategist from Des Moines, called the advisory "nuts" and a distraction that's costing the party at a time when it should be ramping up financially.

Branstad is expected to seek re-election next year, and Iowa Republicans have an opportunity to gain a seat in the U.S. Senate, in light of Democratic Sen. Tom Harkin's announced retirement.

"Their function is to win elections, and instead they have run the party into the ditch," Gross said, referring to state GOP party leaders.

Several Republicans also renewed calls for Iowa GOP Chairman A.J. Spiker to resign. Spiker was not available for comment Friday, a state party official said.

Republican state Rep. Clel Baudler, a retired State Patrol trooper, also said he was concerned about the direction the state party is headed and called for change.

"We have a situation within the state party leadership that needs to be taken care of," Baudler said.

Democrats also chimed in.

Troy Price, the state Democratic Party executive director, said the advice to motorists was puzzling.

"We are baffled by the fact that a state party is instructing its members to record conversations with the police and send it to party officials," Price said.

Sgt. Brent Long, Polk County sheriff's spokesman, said people may record police as long as doing so doesn't interfere with an officer's actions.

Long said the GOP's statement falsely suggests police plan to conduct widespread searches. Vehicles will only be searched if there is probable cause, or if a person allows a search, he said. Police will determine in advance which vehicles to pull over, deciding, for example, to check every fifth vehicle.

"The checkpoint itself is out there for the safety of the people," Long said. "We're trying to alert people who may not know part of their vehicle is not properly functioning."

Drake University law professor Robert Rigg said the law requires checkpoints to be in safe locations visible to motorists, marked by road signs and conducted by uniformed police officers.

Checkpoints are not as common as they once were after the U.S. Supreme Court issued a 2000 ruling that restricted their use. Now it's more common to see police step up enforcement by putting more patrol cars on the road, a common practice in Iowa during holidays.

Krogstad also reports for The Des Moines Register; contributing: The Associated Press